If you’re looking to work on black and white photos, it’s a good idea to have a solid set of Photoshop actions on hand. These help to streamline your efforts and effectively act as timesavers. This is especially important if you have a lot of images you need to edit.
If you’re stumped as to how to locate quality photoshop actions for black and white photos, we’ve put together a good list here of options. All of the actions included here are high-quality, well-reviewed, and generally easy-to-use for any project.
Black & White Photoshop Actions
This set of black and white Photoshop actions includes 15 different actions, that make it easy to turn any photo into a monochrome work of art. These actions offer one-click enhancements for contrast and saturation, allow for adjustments to grain, and you have the option to use all of these actions at once.
Monochromatic Photoshop Presets
Another option you might want to consider is this set of Monochromatic Photoshop Presets. This set of actions allow you to adjust shape, form, tonal contrast, and texture with ease. This set includes 20 Photoshop actions that can be used for all types of black and white photos including matte, high contrast, low contrast, aged effects, and more.
Carbonium Black & White Photoshop Actions
The Carbonium set of Photoshop actions includes 16 different actions that allow you to customize a wide range of black and white photos, from vintage to modern. These effects are non-destructable as well, leaving your original images intact.
Film Noir B&W Photoshop Actions
Give your photos an undeniably moody look with this set of Film Noir Photoshop actions. They’re ideal for portraits, fine art shots, and candid photography as they add an analog quality to digital photography.
B&W Elegance Photoshop Action
Here’s another fantastic set of black and white PS actions. This set is called the B&W Elegance Action set and allows you to attain professional-looking results without destroying your original image. The end results are stark, high-contrast and impactful.
Black & White Photoshop Actions
This set of black and white Photoshop actions consists of 31 different actions that help you attain the perfect b&w photo, regardless of the original lighting, contrast, etc.
Black & White Professional Photoshop Actions
This collection of black and white Photoshop actions includes 27 separate actions that make it possible to enhance your photos in record time. They’re designed to give your photos an analog look and can be used in conjunction to create unique results.
Selective Color Photoshop Action
The Selective Color Photoshop action is a bit different from the others on this list. It allows you to turn your photos black and white while preserving a select area’s color. This is perfect for adding more drama and interest to your black and white photos.
Silver B&W Film Emulation Photoshop Actions
The Silver B&W Film Emulation Photoshop action set contains 28 different actions, 15 contrast effects, and 8 film grains for turning your photos black and white and also giving your images the real grain, texture, and depth of traditional film.
Monochromatic Photoshop Actions
The Monochromatic Vol. 2 PS action set 20 monochromatic presets. These actions help to amplify lighting, contrast, texture, and tone in your photographs with just one click.
Charcoal Effect Photoshop Action
The Charcoal Effect Photoshop Action provides a filtered, vintage look when added to your photos. It adds a charcoal-tone black to images and you can increasing blurriness or aging with 3 additional actions.
Sepia Collection Lightroom Presets
The last option on our list is the Sepia Collection Lightroom Presets pack. It includes 15 actions that allows you to add sepia tone to your photos for a vintage or dramatic effect. Best of all these actions don’t destroy your original images.
How to Install Photoshop Actions
- Download and unzip the action file
- Launch Photoshop
- Go to Window > Actions
- Select Load Actions from the menu and go to the folder where you saved the unzipped action file to select it
- The Action will now be installed
- To use the newly installed action, locate it in the Action panel
- Click the triangle to the left of the action name to see the list of available actions
- Click the action you want to play and press the play button at the bottom of the Actions panel
Hopefully you’ve found this collection of black and white Photoshop actions useful. Regardless, you should be able to find at least one that aids in quick edits of images. And you might happen upon some interesting stylistic choices as well. Good luck!